Tire valve



TIRE VALVE Filed Dec. 20, 1941 2 Shasta-Sheet l If I Dec. 29, 1942. PAYNEv 2,306,495

Inventor Attorney E. PAYNE TIRE VALVE Filed Dec. 20. 1941 2 Sheets-Sht 2 Inventor Attorney Patented Dec. 29, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT ,OFFlCE' TIRE VALVE Ernest Payne, Repton, Ky.

Application December 20, 1941, Serial No. 423,839

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvement in inflating valves, particularly for pneumatic vehicle tires, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to automatically release the air to the atmosphere at a predetermined pressure, thereby preventing over-inflation, blow-outs, and materially promoting safety.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an automatic safety valve of the aforementioned character which may be conveniently and accurately adjusted to release the air at any desired pressure.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a tire inflating valve of the character described wherein the air releasing means may readily be rendered inoperative, if desired.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an automatic safety tire inflating valve of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a tire valve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a topplan View thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section through the device, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line l'| of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line '88 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a detail view in elevation, showing a slight modification,

Figure 10 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9.

Referring now t the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a tubular casing of suitable length, diameter and material, which is designated generally by reference numeral l. The tubular casing I includes comparatively large and small upper and lower portions 2 and 3, respectively. The portion 3 of the casing l is to be anchored in the inner tube (not shown) of the tire and toward this end has" formed thereon a plurality of circumferentially extending segmental ribs 4.

The upper end portion of the casing l is internally and externally threaded, as at 5. At an intermediate point, the portion 2 of the casing l is internally reduced and formed to provide a seat 6. At a point in spaced relation below the seat 6, the portion 2 of the casing I is again internally reduced for providing a shoulder 1.

Mounted for reciprocation in the portion 2 of the casing l is a core which is designated generally by reference numeral 8, said core being substantially cross-shaped inhorizontal section. The core 8 comprises comparatively small and large, integral upper and lower stems 9 and I0, respectively. On the upper end of the inner or lower stem I0 is an inflating valve member II in the form of a disc from which a beveled ring l2 rises. Lugs or ears I3 project from the periphery of the inflating valve member II. A coil spring M, which rests on the shoulder l, is engaged beneath the ears l3 for yieldingly urging the inflating valve member ll upwardly toward closed position. The spring I4 encircles the lower stem l0. Retaining fingers l5 project from the stem 10 and are bent over the upper end portion of the spring I4 for anchoring said spring to said stem.

Encircling the stem 9 and operable in the upper portion 2 of the tubular casing l is an annular channel member constituting a relief valve l 6 having mounted in its lower portion a sealing ring ll of rubber or other suitable material engagea-ble on the seat 6.

Also mounted in the lower portion of the relief valve l6, inwardly of the sealing element l1 and concentric therewith, is an annular, resilient seat l8 of rubber or other suitable material with which the element l2 of the inflating valve member H is engageable. Guides l9 assure proper engagement of the elements 6, l1, I2 and I8.

Threadedly mounted for adjustment in the upper portion 5 of the tubular casing l is a plug 20 having a central opening 2| therein which accommodatesthe stem 9. Rising from the plug 20 is a pair of lugs 22. Mounted between the plug 20 and the relief valve member I is a coil spring 23 which encircles the stem 9. The lower end of the coil spring 23 rests on a flat ring 24 in the relief valve member I6. Fingers 26 secure the spring 23 to the ring 24. An annular groove or channel 25 in the lower end of the plug 20 accommodates the upper end of the spring 23. It will thus be seen that the relief valve member I8 is yieldingly urged downwardly on the seat 6. Lugs 21 project from the upper end of the stem 9 for preventing separation of the core 8 and the elements thereon from the plug 20 after the valve has been assembled.

Threaded on the upper end portion 2 of the tubular casing I is a removable cap 28. The cap 28 has rising therefrom a pair of spaced jaws 29 which are adapted to receive the lugs 22 therebetween for inserting, removing or adjusting the plug 20. The opposed faces of the laws 29 are shaped, as at 30, to clear the upper portion of the stem 9 when said jaws are inserted in the tubular casing I.

The top 3I of the cap has formed therein a centrally located opening 32. Secured in the cap 28 beneath the top 3| by a gasket 33 .is a disc 34 of suitable material. The disc 34 has formed therein a small air vent 35 which communicates with the opening 32.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, an air hose is engaged in the usual manner with the upper end of the casing I, after the cap 28 has been removed, and the core 8 is depressed against the tension of the coil spring, thus opening the inflating valve member II by disengaging the portion I2 thereof from the seat I8. While this is being done, the sealing member I! of the relief valve I6 is maintained in closed position on the seat 6 by the coil spring 23. When the inflating valve member II is thus opened, air from the source of supply is free to flow through the casing I around the core 8 to the tire. When the core 8 is released the valve member I I is immediately closed on the seat I8 by the coil spring I4. If the pressure of the air in the tire is sufficient to overcome the tension of the spring 23, the relief valve member I6 is raised from the seat 6 thereby permitting the escape of the air from the tire to the atmosphere, said air passing or flowing around the relief valve member I6, through the passage 2| in the plug 20 and escaping through the vents 35 and 32. The tension of the coil spring 23 may be regulated to release the air from the tire at any desired pressure by simply adjusting the plug 2| in the casing I. By screwing the plug 20 down hard, the relief valve I6 may, if desired be held in closed position on the seat 6 at all times. Or, the relief valve maybe rendered inoperative by placing an imperforate disc in the cap 23. Should the plug 20 be removed, the lugs 21 on the stem 9 engaged thereon for picking up and lifting the entire assembly out of the casing I.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings, the lower portion of the stem 9 is in the form of a rod 31 which rises from the inflating valve member II. In other respects, this form of the invention is substantially similar in construction and operation to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings. The lugs 21 are shown, in full lines in Figure 9, in vertical position to permit the insertion of the stem 3 through the plug 20, after which said lugs are bent outwardly to the dotted line position.

'It is believed that the many advantages of an automatic safety tire valve constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although preferred embodiments of the device are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modiflcations and changes in the details of construc-' tion may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A tire valve comprising a tubular casing, a stationary seat in said casing at an intermediate point, an annular shoulder in the casing, a relief valve member operable in the casing and including an annular channel, said relief valve member further including an annular sealing element beneath the channel engageable with the stationary seat, a spring in the casing engaged in the annular channel of the relief valve member for yieldingly urging same into engagement with the stationary seat, a seat in the valve member beneath the channel concentric with the sealing element, a stem mounted for reciprocation in the casing and extending through the annular channel, an inflating valve member on the stem at an intermediate point, said inflating valve member including a disc and a ring on the disc engageable with the seat in the valve member, lugs projecting from the periphery of the disc, and a coil spring in the casing having one end engaged with the shoulder and its other end engaged with said lugs for yieldingly urging the inflating valve member toward closed position.

ERNEST PAYNE. 

